Scale Cross Whinstone Quarries

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Scale Cross was a small whinstone concern operated by the Commondale Whinstone Co in the early 20th century, the quarries from this period although now overgrown can still be located on the moor. This quarry may also have been known as Howl Sike but I’ve not seen any documentary evidence of that.
Scale Cross, Whinstone Quarries Scale Cross, Whinstone Quarries

Scale Cross, Whinstone Quarries Scale Cross, Whinstone Quarries

A tramway ran down the hill past Scale Cross farm towards the railway at the bottom of the valley.

Lealholm Wesleyan Chapel, Flood Marks

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The Wesleyen Chapel built in 1839 is next to the footpath which crosses the Esk via the stepping stones
Wesleyan Chapel, Lealholm Wesleyan Chapel, Lealholm

If you look over the wall there next to the side door, there are a series of levels carved into the wall showing the heights of large floods.

Wesleyan Chapel, Lealholm

The 1930 flood washed away bridges at Egton and Glasdale.

On the day I visited the Esk was swollen with melting snow and the stepping stones were covered, but the chapel is still 50m from the water which shows the extent of those floods.

Wesleyan Chapel, Lealholm


Donkey Pond, Whinstone Quarries, Gribdale

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Donkey Pond is a flooded whinstone quarry in woodland near Gribdale Gate.

Donkey Pond, Gribdale, Flooded Whinstone Workings Donkey Pond, Gribdale, Flooded Whinstone Workings

Donkey Pond, Gribdale, Flooded Whinstone Workings

Very little is know of the history of this site, such as whether it was linked with the underground workings of the Gribdale Mining Company about 1km west.

As the whinstone ridge head in that direction a large cutting is visible where the whinstone has been removed, and numerous tramways can be traced through the woods.

Whinstone workings, Gribdale Whinstone workings, Gribdale  Whinstone workings, Gribdale

North Bank Wood, Whinstone Quarry

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I first came across this site nearly 20 months ago and hadn’t realised what it was at the time, now looking back with a little more experience it became apparent it was on the whinstone dyke crossing the area.

A small quarry cutting can be seen with rocks outcropping from the sides.

North Bank Wood, Whinstone Quarry North Bank Wood, Whinstone Quarry

A small bridge over a stream is visible which connected the site to the adjacent railway line

North Bank Wood, Whinstone Quarry

Powder Hole, Powder Wharf, South Gare

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Powder Wharf, South Gare, Redcar Powder Wharf, South Gare, Redcar

Some people say this is a First World War jetty, it may well have been reused / rebuilt then but the 1894 OS maps already shows a tramway running from the powder wharf in the direction of the gare, joining up with the tramway on which sail bogies were also known to run. This would tie in nicely with 1880’s submarine mine loading complex on the gare which presumably needed a supply of explosives.
1894.jpg    phpfryy9p.jpg

The small inlet immediately to the south east is known as Powder Hole.

Bolckow and Vaughans Graves, St Cuthberts, Marton

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Despite being two of the founding fathers of Middlesbrough, the graves had fallen into disrepair until they were recently refurbished

John Vaughans Grave, St Cuthberts Marton Henry Bolckows Grave, St Cuthberts Marton

Bolckow died in Ramsgate on 18th June 1878, 10,000 people attended his funeral, said to be one fifth of the population of Middlesbrough.
Henry Bolckows Grave, St Cuthberts Marton St Cuthberts Marton
Vaughan died in London on 16th September 1868

A plaque to Vaughan who died on 16 September 1868 was found under a bush 20 years ago, this is also going to be put back on display

Update 28/11/11
A diagram of the plaque is now attached to the grave plot.
John Vaughan Family Vault